47 Russian Athletes Lose Appeal, Will Not Compete In Pyeongchang

posted by RJ Johnson - @rickerthewriter -
9 months ago

The 47 Russian athletes and coaches who filed an appeal against the International Olympic Committee's decision to bar them from competing in Pyeongchang have been shut down by an appeals court.

The IOC banned Russian officials and athletes from competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics after a historic doping scandal which revealed the country had a state-sponsored doping program to give athletes an advantage in Sochi four years ago. The IOC said it would allow individuals who have been deemed 'clean' the ability to participate in Pyeongchang games as "Olympic Athletes from Russia."

Medals won by the group of 170 Russian athletes would not be reflected in Russia's overall medal count.

The group of athletes appealed the decision saying there was insufficient evidence tying them to the doping scandal. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport disagreed, denying their appear just a few hours before the games officially began.

Thanks to the ban, several of Russia's biggest names in winter sports will not be competing. They include 6 time gold medal skeedskating champ Viktor Ahn, and world champion biathlete Anton Shipulin.